Really pleased to get on here and see posts from the HOLers that I know work in the city - glad you're all ok. And really hope and pray that other people's family and friends are ok too.

I have never been a fan of Ken Livingstone, but I thought it was a very moving, non-scripted speech that he gave, which will have reflected the thoughts of many Londoners.

I am proud to be a Londoner. To live in a society of such diversity. To live in a city which on the whole promotes tolerance.
And I'm especially proud today of the way Londoner's reacted to today's events - the emergency services especially, of course, but also the general public.
We, as Londoners, will continue to go about our daily lives in a land where freedom is important and diversity is celebrated.
"Terrorists", by definition, don't just want to kill people, which sadly they did achieve. They also try to create terror, create fear and panicm which I'd say, in the most part, they've failed to do.

My heart felt condolences go out to every one that has lost a friend or loved one in today's attack. Everyone here in New York knows what you are going through and prays that nothing more happens. To everyone in London, be careful and get home safe.

But why did the poster mention Livingstone's link with the Arabs then? What have the Arabs got to do with a few Muslim extremists?

Well, you'll have to ask him that. My interpretation is that he was highlighting Livingstone's sympathy towards a) the Arabs in respect of their dispute with Israel and b) his puzzling approval of various individuals with proven anti-Western agendas.

But that's just my view. It's still a quantum leap in logic to conclude that the poster is accusing all Arabs of being terrorists.

I did not say all Arabs are terrorists. What i was saying is that Livingstone has actively supported the Arab cause. The Arab cause is, as most people will agree, a difficult one to understand as the different factions within the cause want different things in different countries.

Some use negotiation..I've no problem with that as I believe they are genuine.

Some use terrorism...these are the ones I am talking about.

When Livingstone supports the whole Arab cause he immediately affiliates himself with both sides of the cause. Therefore he is either a complete idiot and doesn't realise the boost his support gives to the Arab terrorist part of their cause or he is a 2 faced f*cker.

Having been in London during the 70's, 80's and 90's I know which one I think is true!!

'Lies to the masses as are like fly's to mollasses...they want more and more and more'

I don't want to negotiate. What for? We are not even sure what thees people want apart from causing death and distruction. And I don't agree with Political Corectness bollocks either.

What can we do about it. We know next to nothing about Al Quieda. It's not as if they are all based in one country.

They are a terroist organisation with cells in a lot of Country's. Ranging from Afghanistan to Iraq right down to Germany, france and even Britain and still the US. This is despite the attack on the Taliban regime of Afghanistan after 9/11, which achieved nothing if the opposite from what it intended. You say strike back hard. I agree, but it is the way that we do so that worries me. With Al Quieda in so many Countries where do we start? And how? Do I want to bring the people responsible for this to justice. Damn f***ing right I do. I want them locked up in the nastiest (not cushy prisons like ours) conditions possible where they are tortured every day but left in a state where they survive so they can be batterd the next day.

I will be honest. I am worried that if we try and strike back in the same way that America did we would eventually end up in a situation where they strike (like today), we strike in retaliation, then they strike back and on we continue. The outcome? No one is safe and we live in a Country where we are constantly looking over our shoulder. I do not want to live in a paranoid and scared society, which I fear it could become. Nor do I wan't to bring my future Children up where they are constently looking over thier shoulder.

Tommorow I am going to get up, go to work and carry on leading and enjoying my life the way I see fit and am proud to do so.

johnno42000 I apolagise for implying that you think all Arab's are terrorists. In your post this was clearly not your intention, and I apolagise for doing so.

Edited by Giovanni (07 Jul 2005 9:11pm)

This club has had some great moments.

Ready for some more?

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